But in the quote I replied to it was sounding as if there was only ONE sort of C-RPG eligible for being defined by the expression "roile-playing games" : One that involves combat, and nothing but that.
That's how it sounded to me.
My preference is combat heavy games, but I don't mind story or C&C. If done well, in conjunction with great combat, then you have a truly outstanding game.
But even games that are light on combat are still crpgs IMO.
And because of that, it sounded to me as if games WITHOUT combat are - according to that definition - are NOT "role-playing games".
Well, now I'm the confused one. To answer you, Yes. Games without combat are not cRPGs. Many games and genres are increasingly adding RPG-like elements.
Now do I dislike the devs of Disco Elysium or the game? No. I actually think the game looks beautiful and the narrative resolution of conflict makes this adventure game interesting.
My problem with them calling this an rpg, as well as we as a broader community accepting that definition, is that it dilutes what a crpg is in a way that no other game has before it. Sure, action rpgs have blurred the lines ever since Diablo 1, as player reaction became the biggest component instead of the system's stats and abilities.
However, combat was always a mainstay, regardless if it was executed by action or by being turn based. Let's not forget, the earliest cRPGs were almost exclusively combat. With each member in the party playing its own role in order to defeat enemies.
What DE has done is to say that the resolution of conflict is no longer tied to combat. Which is a huge leap. It opens the doors for almost any game with stats to now be considered a cRPG. Hence, my point with the discussion with sports games. They have every element of Disco Eleysium, including non-combat conflict resolution.
The other poster's argument about jobs vs roles is merely semantics. With a full story mode, cutscenes, C&C, stats, and non-combat conflict resolution, Madden is just as much an RPG as Disco Elysium is.
IF of course you buy into DE being an RPG. Which I do not. And since they've decided to market themselves as that, it's my opinion that the genre is best served if this game doe snot succeed commercially. That's just my opinion. There's no malice or edginess here.